oldies and employment

it did take a while to work it out but they got there in the end...

http://bbc.in/2cZYVWY

 

Can we have a brief synopsis of the program or do we have to watch it?

 

In nowadays work market I guess: the wrong side of 40. Although it must be said that thanks to social media nowadays oldies can have a more active social and productive life.

It is an iplayer programme. Yes, it should be allright.

 

I think there's a lot wrong with this.

40 is no way the threshold for qualification as an oldie. I'm 42, and apart from a bit of arthritis in my foot as a direct result of living my life with gusto, I am mentally and physically as fit as a fiddle. As are many 40, 50 or even 60 year olds.

In terms of employment, most employers recognise the value of maturity. There are only 2 reasons why employers would discriminate against people old enough to have pubes. In a very few roles, youth is favoured because the job is very physically demanding. This is roles like emergency services or military. The other, more common reason why some employers prefer younger people is because they are far easier to exploit.

 

I'm 54 and apparently Scottish

 

I know a man of 76 who is preparing for his black belt test. I used to live next door to a man who wouldn't reveal his age, but one evening while drinking with us slipped up that he grew up during world war 2. He was still competing against 20 odd years olds in long distance bike races and always doing alright.

I stopped short of 60 in this case because it's about employment. Most 60 pluses I know have put all that behind them now and are past competing for work.

 

I'm a black belt at ludo...